http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Travels-in-the-Cozy-Turtle/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Travels in the Cozy Turtle en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:30:03 +0000 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:30:03 +0000 From Silverton we headed to Durango. The aspen trees were way passed peak in this area of the state. Temps were definitely colder. The road traveled over several mountain passes and Frank enjoyed them because he collected alot of rocks. We didn't stop in Durango we started home. We had decided to return home by the southern route. We spent the night in New Mexico and pushed home from there http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Durango/blog-446509.html Today our destination was Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. The south entrance which is the most accessible is 12 miles from Montrose. We arrived at the Visitor Center about 900 am. It was a windy day mostly sunny and not cold. After orientation at the VC we took a 2 mile hike on the rim of the canyon and in the upland scrub oak. Black Canyon is dark and narrow and known for the light to pi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Black-Canyon-of-the-Gunnison-National-Park/blog-445327.html Our first stop this morning was a stop off the main highway to a place called Marble CO. The small town is named after the marble quarry that supplied the marble for the Lincoln Memorial and the tomb of the unknown soldier. It was a beautiful ride with shimmering aspens lining the road. You could tell when we were getting close to the town large pieces of marble were in peoplersquos fron http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Montrose/blog-445316.html This morning we visited the Maroon Bells a much photographed set of red mountain peaks near Aspen. By the time we arrived at 830 am the parking lot was almost full and many many photographers were surrounding the lake to photograph the Bells. The aspen were past peak here but the area was still beautiful. I spent an enjoyable hour photographing. We left the crowds behind and drove to Ashcr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Aspen/blog-445309.html Leadville is surrounded by 2 of the highest mountains in CO and I got to see the sun turn the peaks pink this morning when I was walking the dogs We spent the morning touring the National Mining Museum. I didnrsquot realize that so many consumer products contain minerals that must be mined. Leadville had all kinds of mines at one time silver gold lead zinc and copper. Small boom towns s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Aspen/blog-445077.html Trail Ridge Rd was open and we were on it by 645am. We wanted to avoid the weekend crowds. TR Rd is the highest paved road in North America. It travels along the spine of the Rockies with the highest point over 12000 ft. There were some good mountain views and the skies were blue but it was cold and windy at the top. In the afternoon we left RMNP behind and traveled southwest to Leadville http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Leadville/blog-444522.html Our last day in RMNP was sunny with bright blue skies and fluffy clouds. temps werenrsquot bad either. The Trail Ridge Rd was still closed so we decided to do a geological interest driving tour Frank always finds these books around Estes Park. Going out of the campground we saw elk grazing through the campsites. There were also quite a few at the Visitors Center in Estes Park. The drive w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Estes-Park/blog-444520.html This morning it was sunny and snowflakes were falling but the sun was soon hidden by clouds. The road that travels around the higher locations of the park Trail Ridge Road from east to west was still partially closed today. So we decided to do some hikes in the area. First stop was Sprague Lake which used to be a resort in the early 1900rsquos. It was a level halfmile walk around the lak http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Rocky-Mountains/blog-444507.html The morning was gray and chilly but it wasnrsquot snowing Gary the RV repairman made his house or rather RV call by 800. He was familiar with the type of problem we had because his RV had thermostat problems too So he ordered the part and we will need to return to Estes Park for installation on Friday. This will mean we stay an extra day in the area which isnrsquot much of a schedule d http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-439760.html Peak to Peak Highway September 22 2009This morning was cloudy and cold with snow still on the ground. We started later than usual and I had a chance to walk around the area and see the effects of an early autumn snow. Our first stop was Red Rocks Park. Itlsquos a famous natural amphitheatre made from red rocks. We also found a Colorado Visitorrsquos Center and a nice person who helped http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-439745.html Moving On September 20 2009Today we drove in and out of rain today as we traveled through IN MO and entered KS. Sunday traffic in the cities of Indianapolis St. Louis and Kansas City made driving easier. We spent the night in Lawrence KS home of University of Kansas. It was a long day.Arrive in Colorado September 21 2009It was a gray morning with black black clouds. As we traveled west http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Denver/blog-439739.html We left home September 18th via York PA. Frank had a short furniture making class he wanted to attend. After class on the 19th we drove west towards Pittsburg. The leaves were actually turning on the east side of the Allegany mountains. Red orange and yellow color dotted the green mountainsides. On the western side the trees were still green. The PA farmland was a patchwork of dark brown p http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Rocky-Mountains/blog-439737.html Travels in the Cozy Turtle 2009We werenrsquot sure wersquod be able to take a trip this year because itrsquos difficult to leave my father now that hersquos ninety and one of our dogs has been very sick for the last four months. But things worked out and we are taking about three weeks in mid September to early October to see the state of Colorado. Wersquore looking forward to seeing http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Rocky-Mountains/blog-439736.html We arrived home Wednesday afternoon. God blessed us with a safe trip of over 8100 miles. It seemed when we traveled toward home time dragged. It took 5 days to travel cross country by the ldquomiddle routerdquo. We traversed the entire westeast length of Nevada Wyoming and Nebraska. Then we dropped down to Kansas City Missouri where we picked up I64. We drove through a small part of Illin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Richmond/blog-285142.html Lassen NP is at a high altitude and is one of the coldest places in CA. It was sunny and 36 degrees this morning. The Visitorrsquos Center is only open Friday Saturday and Sunday during this time of the season. We were happy it was Friday We got an interpretive guide and started our tour through the park.Lassen Volcano erupted in 1914 and had outbursts over the next 7 years. It acted simi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Lassen-Volcanic-National-Park/blog-282020.html This morning we traveled the Avenue of the Giants an area with a state park and acres and acres of old growth redwood groves right off of Highway 101. The road wasnrsquot narrow but it did wind around big trees that were close to the highway. We stopped at several places to walk through the groves. The woods were dark and quiet except for chirping birds very peaceful. The forest floor was http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-282017.html Today was my day. I wanted to visit Mendocino I read itrsquos a unique California town. We stayed 2 miles north of town at Russian Gulch State Park last night. Frank parked CT in Mendocino about 830 am and I walked around. It was overcast and cool. Mendocino is a unique sea town lots of Victorian houses turned into BBrsquos and Inns quaint architecture numerous shops galleries and s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Mendocino/blog-281290.html We started our exploration of the Northern coast at Salt Point State Park where we spent the night. We got to the beach early. On one was in sight. The breeze was cool and gentle and you could smell the ocean. The sun was shining and the coast was peaceful no crashing waves. Just offshore a group of harbor seals were clustered together not near rocks. Every now and then one would bark and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-281243.html This morning our destination was Healdsburg in the Sonoma Valley about 45 minutes away from where we stayed. I had been told this was a central area near a number of wineries. The town has a central plaza with upscale shops and cafes around it and a number of wine tasting rooms. I was more interested in seeing the wineries and vineyards than tasting the wine. After some advice from the Visitor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Sonoma-County/Healdsburg/blog-281240.html When we left Yosemite 524 it was raining. Our plan was to buy groceries do laundry and find a place to stay near San Francisco so we could drive over the Golden Gate Bridge early Sunday morning. We accomplished our goals and spent the night at San Leandro an Oakland suburb.CT was on the road by 715 am Sunday. Traffic was manageable and Ginny got us to the Golden Gate Bridge in an hour wit http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-281238.html